http://americancopmagazine.com/the-gunsite-academy-bear-drill/feed/0Century Arms And Canik Team Up For New 9mmhttp://americancopmagazine.com/century-arms-and-canik-team-up-for-new-9mm/
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The Canik TP9SL is a striker-fire pistol ready for home defense right out of the box. No upgrades needed.

It’s An X-Ring Christmas

By Payton Miller

Christmas comes but once a year they say. But if you do it right, once a year is more than enough. To use an overworked, semi-obnoxious piece of terminology, if you are “gifting” someone who is a shooter, gun guy or basic-issue outdoorsman, your task is made easier by one inarguable fact. Such folks are gonna insist on useful gizmos—whether they’re time honored and traditional, or New Age high-tech.

Here are some items we recommend to liven the sacred gift-giving ritual we all enjoy. But let’s call things what they are. You’ll never hear “Happy Holidays” here. So, Merry Christmas.

Federal Match .22 LR

It’s always the “right Christmas” to celebrate—even belatedly—the end of the “Great .22 Rimfire Ammo Shortage.” And there wouldn’t be a better way to do it than to give the shooter on your list a 500-round brick of Federal Premium .22 Long Rifle Hunter Match ammo. Featuring a 40-grain Match HP bullet, this stuff clocks right at 1,200 fps and would make a great small game/target/plinking “do it all” load. $59.95 (500 rounds). Federal Premium Ammuntion, 1 Vista Way, Anoka, MN 55303, (800) 379-1732, www.federalpremium.com

Stevens 301

Santa himself couldn’t think of a more practical gift than a name brand, inexpensive single-shot shotgun with an external hammer. Why? Well, they’re the last word in bombproof reliability and simplicity. The Stevens 301 is just such an item. It’s got a synthetic stock, a break-open action and can be had in 12 or 20 gauge with a 26-inch barrel. In addition, there are compact versions available in 20 gauge and .410 bore which sport a 22-inch barrel at $173. Savage Arms, 100 Springdale Rd., Westfield, MA 01085, (800) 370-0708, www.savagearms.com

Nightstick Flashlight

A serious light source makes one heckuva useful gift, and the Nightstick NSR-1514 is about as serious as it gets. This rechargeable LED area light comes with a magnetic base and 6-foot tripod. It’s capable of 1,000 lumens on high and 500 on low and operates by a single sealed pushbutton switch. Even so, the Nightstick weighs only 3.3 pounds and comes in a carrying case. It provides 8 hours of continual light on a single charge and can be swiveled independently for various angles. The price of the entire kit including light, base, tripod and case is $210. Bayco Products, 640 S. Sanden Blvd., Wylie, TX 75098 (800) 233-2155, www.baycoproducts.com

TOPS Knives Apache Dawn

Eventually, every folder fan comes to the realization there are just some things you need a fixed-blade knife for. And a big fixed blade at that. If someone on your gift list has come to this realization, you might consider TOPS’ Apache Dawn Rockies Edition. It weighs just under a pound, has a 6.75-inch blade, a finger choil for control and a G10 handle. It’d be tough to think of a better combat/field knife. $220. TOPS Knives, P.O. Box 86, Ucon, ID 83454, (208) 542-0013, www.topsknives.com

SIG BB Blaster

If you had to pick three classic 9mm platforms, chances are good the SIG P226 would be one of them. Now the company is offering a semi-auto CO2-powered .177 version—The P226 ASP (Advanced Sport Pellet). It’s got a 4.5-inch barrel, polymer grips, a 16-round capacity and a soda-can-punching 480 fps muzzle velocity. Oh, it’ll also handle BB’s as well. It’s a P226 clone right down to the appearance and DA/SA feature. Designed as a training tool, it’s a lot kinder to your wallet than the real thing at $110.99. SIG SAUER Inc., 72 Pease Blvd., Newington, NH 03801 (603) 610-3000, www.sigsauer.com

Federal Premium Hi-Bird

Even the most dedicated hunter—over the course of a lifetime—is probably going to fire more shotshells than centerfire rifle cartridges. And high-end shotgun shells have their place, and not just for turkey or waterfowl. If you want to gift your hunter with some, Federal Premium Ammunition’s new Hi-Bird loads feature high velocity, a special 2-piece wad to provide more consistent long-range patterns, and lead shot engineered for hardness and density. It’s strictly 12-gauge, 2-3/4-inch and is designed for upland birds requiring extra reach. Pellet payloads are 1-1/8 and 1-1/4 ounce and shot sizes include 6, 7-1/2 and 8. The per-box price is $10.95 to $12.95, so it’s probably best reserved for the long-awaited out-of-state pheasant or chukar hunt, although it would be ideal for high-flying bandtail pigeon as well. Federal Premium Ammuntion, 1 Vista Way, Anoka, MN 55303, (800) 379-1732, www.federalpremium.com

Burke Gallery Guns

The Cool Factor is, of course, the ultimate yardstick of X’mas gift desirability. Because of this, Burke Gallery Guns should figure into any list of potential stocking stuffers. What they offer are 1/2-scale, handmade models of iconic Old West firearms including such oddities as the Volcanic pistols or a sawed-off double-barreled shotgun called the 1879 Tombstone, which looks like something Doc Holliday might have packed. All Burke guns fire 4.5mm BB’s powered by No. 10 black-powder percussion caps. $399 and up from www.burkegalleryguns.com

Springfield Armory Knives

Anyone on your list with a serious lust for Springfield Armory firearms—1911’s, XD’s, M1A’s? Well, if so, the Springfield OD Knock Out knife in olive-and-black make for a mightily appreciated gift. For knife companies to make promotional blades for American gun companies is an old and honored collaboration concept. And this particular Springfield/Kershaw pairing includes one of the best we’ve seen. Featuring an anodized aluminum frame with stainless-steel plate to form the sub-frame lock, this is a lightweight, yet very strong folder. The 3-1/4-inch blade is a modified drop point in Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel with a matte black DLC coating. The SpeedSafe assisted-opening feature makes quick, 1-handed opening a veritable snap for $99.99. Springfield Armory, 420 W. Main St., Geneseo, IL 61254, (800) 680-6866, www.springfieldarmory.com Photo: Thomas Mackie

TOPS Sling

For guys of “a certain age,” nothing brings back boyhood like a slingshot. Leo Espinoza, president of TOPS Knives, evidently understands this. This is why his company has introduced the TOPS Sling. It’s made of 1095 steel and features a black canvas micarta handle and comes with a brown leather belt loop sheath. The overall length is 6-1/4 inches and the weight is a little over 6-1/2 ounces. It’s ideal for shooting soda cans, rodents, or even small game. Basically, however, it’s for just plain fun at $130. TOPS Knives, P.O. Box 86, Ucon, ID 83454, (208) 542-0013, www.topsknives.com

We all know the Glock 19 is not really a compact. To be frank, it is almost a standard-sized pistol with its 15+1 capacity in 9mm and its 4.01″ barrel. Only the fact the Glock 17 with its 17+1 capacity and 4.48″ barrel outsizes it makes it a “compact” by any stretch of the imagination. But, its size is ideal for splitting the difference between duty carry and concealed carry roles. Reminding me of the porridge in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The G19’s size is “just right” for performing in either role.

The new M&P M2.0 Compact from Smith & Wesson takes the classic Glock 19 head on in
size and capabilities, but brings a whole slew of upgraded features to the table.
So, who wins? The new Smith or Glock’s newest Gen5 G19?

Enter the new Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Compact, a pistol that so closely follows the overall dimensions of the G19 it cannot be a coincidence. But hey, if something is a good idea, why not see if you can improve on it? Currently offered in 9mm and .40, the pistol has a 4″ barrel and a 15+1 capacity in 9mm (13+1 in .40), and has just about the same overall dimensions and weight as the G19.

So, what’s the big deal you might ask? The fact is this is a notable move for S&W, in that the “compact” version of the earlier M&P pistol (the M&P9C) was much more compact — in fact, it is more of a subcompact than anything else with its 10+1 capacity in 9mm and extremely small dimensions. With the upgrade of the M&P to the M&P M2.0 family, it looks like Smith took the opportunity to give shooters another option size-wise.

The M2.0 Compact is offered as a standard model with no frame-mounted thumb
safety, or (as shown) with an optional ambidextrous unit.

The Smith features a strip of Picatinny rail on the dustcover area.

Smith really upped the aggressiveness of the panel texture on the new M2.0 series,
and it comes with a wide range of palmswell inserts for customizing the grip.

In case you are not familiar with the M2.0 upgrades, it basically was a revamp of the original M&P polymer pistol introduced in the early 2000s. Smith decided to redo almost every feature of the pistol design, from trigger to the grip to the frame to the finish. Internally, Smith added an extended stainless steel chassis for increased rigidity, and the new trigger is designed to be crisper and lighter with a tactile reset. This, combined with a more aggressive grip texture and more grip inserts than you can shake a stick at and you have a very adaptable and capable design.

So, take a look at the specs for each pistol, and let us know which you think might be the winner—the stalwart Glock 19 or the new S&W M2.0 Compact. Feel free to comment below!

Mossberg Shockwave

By John Higgs

The National Firearms Act (1934) restricts an individual’s ability to own full-auto firearms, and rifles and shotguns with short barrels. The law did allow for private ownership, but only after a fee had been paid to the government and the firearm registered. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms enforces this law along with all the other firearms laws and collects a $200 tax each time ownership is transferred.

Under the law, a shotgun with one or more barrels less than 18″ in length and an overall length less than 26″ is considered a short-barreled gun and must be registered and taxed. And that’s how it was for decades … until now.

The 590 Shockwave from Mossberg gives you a civie-legal 12 gauge with a 14″ barrel,
but no NFA headaches (but be sure it is legal under your state and local laws).
Image courtesy of Mossberg.

A Different Direction

The new Mossberg 590 Shockwave prompted some wide grins and sidelong glances between my FFL dealer and me when we first opened the shipping box. That gun is pretty short. The barrel barely extends past magazine. According to the letter written by the BATF, the Shockwave is classified simply as a “firearm” according to the provisions of the Gun Control Act (1968). The key is the fact it has an overall length greater than 26″, thanks to the length of the curved bird’s head grip. Also key is the fact the newly manufactured receiver was never attached to a full stock (and never should be).

But is it legal, and is it legal everywhere? Some states do not recognize it as a firearm in the same way they would allow the Mossberg 590 with a full shoulder stock and an 18.5″ barrel. As noted above, the Shockwave has never had a full-length stock attached to it. This would make it a short-barrel weapon, subject to “Any Other Weapon” (AOW) status, if a stock were attached. So, under no circumstances should the user ever attach a full stock to a Shockwave. To do so, even just for a minute would be a violation of the law. It might even invite an angry visit from the men in black division of the ATF and a nasty court hearing. To read the full letter from ATF, go to: http://www.mossberg.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Shockwave-Letter-from-ATF-3-2-17.pdf

The entire gun is finished in a non-reflective black coat of badass. There are sling swivel studs mounted in the front of the tubular magazine and in the end of the curved bird’s head grip. A nylon strap is attached at each end of the forend to prevent the hand from slipping in front of the muzzle under recoil. That is a good idea! I recommend always using it.

The recommended way to shoot a shotgun with no shoulder stock is with the gun held against
the hip, barrel parallel to the ground, support hand inside the forend strap.

Attention Getter

At conversational distances, it’s a devastating bad guy blaster. The Shockwave can really only be fired by bracing the pistol grip against the hip and keeping the barrel parallel to the ground. Using this technique, with a little practice, I was able to make good center-mass hits out to around 10–15 yards on a humanoid style target. I found buckshot rounds are quite manageable. However, one-ounce slugs will cause enough recoil to draw a little blood on the trigger hand. Dillon Precision sells B&P 3-Gun competition (reduced recoil) slugs in 25-round quantities that make the Shockwave great fun to shoot, while still having the capability of putting a deep ¾-inch hole in living tissue. Since I like to take advantage of the versatility of any shotgun, I will use buckshot as my primary load, but I’ll also carry a couple of slugs on my belt. I like the Belt Mounted Double Shotshell Carrier made by Spectergear that fits 2″ Duty & Tactical Belts.

Another option (which also increases the magazine capacity significantly) is to use Aguila Minishells. These 12-gauge shells come in loads of #7½ shot, 00 buckshot and a 7/8-ounce slug. However, a special adapter must be fitted to the tubular magazine to get the short shells to feed properly.

I’m not much of a fan of laser sights on firearms, but I think the Shockwave would benefit from a laser mounted as close to the barrel as possible. That would likely increase the effective range, especially with slugs. NcStar makes a short Picatinny rail that mounts to the top of the receiver and then a small laser can be mounted on the rail.

The Shockwave shown above a standard Mossberg 500 12 gauge with a full stock and 20″ barrel.

Special Skills

The Shockwave may have limited applications, but what it can do, it does very well. I can see it as a car gun, a home defense gun (with the appropriate ammunition that won’t penetrate the neighbor’s walls), and maybe even as a defense gun for boat owners. But perhaps most importantly, ownership is one more brick in the wall that protects the Second Amendment. The more people who own one, the harder it might be to reverse the BATF’s ruling.